Alana Sofia Othman / 0353451 / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Advanced Typography
JUMP LINKS
LECTURES
The 8 Typographic Systems
Typographic systems are solid frameworks that provide guidance to designers. It ensures that the message being communicated has clear focus and direction.
Axial System
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Elements are seperated into groups and are placed on either side of the axis. It is not constrained to one single straight axis and can be merged or bent.
Radial System
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| Figure 1.2. Radial System (Source: Cargo Collective / theresiaing) |
Elements are extended and spread out from a point of focus.
Dilatational System
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| Figure 1.3. Dilational System (Source: Type 365) |
Elements expand from a central point in a circlular manner. There can be multiple rings of circles with texts on either side or on the rings
Random System
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| Figure 1.4. Random System (Source: Behance / Francine Schumpert) |
Elements appear to have no specific pattern or relationship. It can be a mix of multiple other typographic systems, causing it to be random. Despite being random, it will have flow and focus.
Grid System
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| Figure 1.5. Grid System (Source: Type 365) |
The layout is seperated into vertical and horizontal divisions. Elements are placed within the different grids.
Modular System
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| Figure 1.6. Modular System (Source: Behance / Stephen Kelman) |
The layout is seperated into units that are all of the standardised sizes. Elements are placed within these units.
Transitional System
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| Figure 1.7. Transitional System (Source: Behancec / Tiago Rocha) |
Bilateral System
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| Figure 1.8. Bilateral System (Source: Type 365) |
All elements are arranged symmetrically on a single axis.
Lecture Video 2
Typographic Composition
Principles of Design Composition
- The basic and dominant principles of design composition are emphasis, isolation, repetition, symetry, asymmetry, alignment, perspective, etc.
- Some of these basic compositions are not always so easily translated in application. For example, emphasis and symetry is easily visualised in a typographic setting but ideas such as repetition or perspective would be harder to achieve.
Rule of Thirds
- Photographic guide to composition
- Intersection points of a space that has been divided into 3 columns and 3 rows are used as focal points
- Generally not used in a typographic composition but can still be interesting depending on context
Typographic Systems
- The 8 systems covered in previous lecture
- Grid system is most commonly used
- Despite the grid system being a very common and seemingly rigid system, Swiss Modernist designers, such as Josef Muller Brockmann, Jan Tschichold, Max Bill, etc., enhanced the system by giving it more personality and expression while staying in order.
- In the Post-Modernist era, designers such as David Carson, Paula Scher, Jonathan Barnbrook, and so on began to rebel agaisnt the rigid and organised approach, creating randomness, asymmetry, dilational, etc.
- Order was essentially replaced with assumed chaos and randomness. However, there was still alot of thinking and intuition of placement of information.
Environmental Grid
- Based on the exploration of an existing structure or numerous structures combined.
- It is the extraction of crucial lines and organised around that.
- This creates a unique and exciting mix while provides context to the forms developed due to the fact that is based off key features of the associated environment
Form and Movement
- Based on the exploration of an existing grid structure
- Aims to explore the multitude of grid options, dismiss its rigidness and to focus on the slow motion of turning pages.
- It is about the flow of change of grid system between pages
- Elements cannot be too decorative
Lecture Video 3
Context & Creativity
Handwriting
- The first mechanically produced letterforms were designer to imitate handwriting
- The shape and lines of hand drawn letterforms are influenced by the tools and materials used to make them such as, sharpened bones, charcoal, sticks, brushes, feather, etc.
- One of the first handwriting letterforms is the Proto-Sinaitic circe 1750 BCE. This then slowly evolves to modern english
- Circa 3000 BCE was the Cuneiform in Ancient Egypt
- Black Letter during the Gothic era came in circa 12-15 CE
- Movable Type and printing came circa 11 - 14 C in China, Korea and Japan.
- Earliest known printed book is the Dharani Sutra, AD 750
- Late 14th C, Koreans established a foundry to cast movable type in broze, allowing the dismantling and resetting of text
- The evolution of Middle Eastern alpabets began with Phoenician letterforms and evolved several times into Modern Hebrew
- The Chinese script evolution went from the Oracle bone to the Seal Script to Clerical Script, Traditional and Simplified script
- The oldest writing found in the Indus Valley Civilizaztion, c. 3500-2000 BCE) is still undeciphered and seems to have related to logo-syllabic in nature
- The Brahmi script (450-350 BCE) is the parent script of most subcontinent scripts in India. It is debated that the Brahmi Script is influenced or derived by the Indus script and/or the Semitic (Middle Eastern) scripts.
- Oldest writing system in Southeast Asia are the Indian scripts, the most important is the Pallava, which was originally used for Sanskrit and Tamil.
- The Pra-nagari is also an early form of the Nagari script, used in India for writing Sanskrit
- Kawi is one of the most important historical script in Nusantara. It was used for contacting other kingdoms and became the basis of other scrpts in both Indonesia and Philippines
- The word 'Kawi' comes from the Sanskrit term 'kavya', meaning poet
- Ancient kingdoms in the Malay Peninsula would have used both Indian scripts and Kawi to write the old Malay language
- Indonesia has a great number of historical writing systems that assimilated into Peninsular Malay communities, such as Incung and Rejang under the script grouping of Rencong coming from South Sumatra; Batak script; Lontara as the Bugis script; Javanese script and so on.
Task 1 / Exercise 1: Typographic Systems
Axial System
InDesign Process
Posters Drafts
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| Figure 2.1. Axial System Drafts 1.1, Week1 (31st Aug - 7th Sept 2022) |
Radial System
InDesign Process
Posters
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| Figure 3.1. Radial System Drafts 1.1, Week1 (31st Aug - 7th Sept 2022) |
Dilational System
InDesign Process
Posters
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| Figure 4.1. Dilational System Drafts 1.1, Week1 (31st Aug - 7th Sept 2022) |
I was not entirely sure how to work with this system as it did not seem to fit the punk feel at all. My first attempt was (left of Figure 4.1.) mostly just figuring the system out. After staring at it for awhile, I was reminded of music CD's or vinyl's. With that in mind, I came up with the next one. However, it was a challenge to keep its legibility in an interesting enough manner.
Random System
InDesign Process
Posters
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| Figure 5.1. Random System Drafts 1.1, Week1 (31st Aug - 7th Sept 2022) |
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Grid System
InDesign Process
Posters
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| Figure 6.1. Grid System Drafts 1.1, Week1 (31st Aug - 7th Sept 2022) |
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Figure
6.2.
Grid
System
Drafts
2.1,
Week2
(7th
-
14th
Sept
2022) |
Modular System
InDesign Process
Posters
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| Figure 7.1. Modular System Drafts 1.1, Week1 (31st Aug - 7th Sept 2022) |
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Transitional System
InDesign Process
Posters
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| Figure 8.1. Transitional System Drafts 1.1, Week1 (31st Aug - 7th Sept 2022) |
Bilateral System
InDesign Process
Posters
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Despite this being such a commonly used system, I found it fun to play around with since we were not constrained to using only one axis.
Final Outcomes
JPG's
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| Figure 10.1. Final Axial System, Week1 (31st Aug - 7th Sept 2022) |
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Figure
10.2.
Final
Radial
System,
Week1
(31st
Aug
-
7th
Sept
2022) |
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Figure
10.3.
Final
Dilational
System,
Week1
(31st
Aug
-
7th
Sept
2022) |
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Figure
10.4.
Final
Random
System,
Week2
(7th
-
14th
Sept
2022) |
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Figure
10.6.
Final
Modular
System,
Week2
(7th
-
14th
Sept
2022) |
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PDF's
Image Choice
My Options
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| Figure 11.1. Image Choices, Week2 (7th - 14th Sept 2022) |
I scrolled through my gallery and found a few images I liked and would fit the assignment brief. I stared at them each for awhile searching for letterforms before anything. I then narrowed my images to these 3 images as I could not yet decide which one would work out best.
Progress
Image Tracing
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Figure 11.2. Image
Tracing, Week2 (7th
- 14th Sept 2022)
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Clouds (Top Left) Letters: A, B, D, U, W
Stained Glass (Bottom) Letters: a, c, i, p, x
Letter Overlay
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| Figure 11.3. Letter / Font Overlay, Week2 (7th - 14th Sept 2022) |
Clouds (Top) Font: Adobe Caslon Pro Bold
Stained Glass (Bottom) Font: Serifa Bold
At this point, I decided to drop the second image choice, Transmission Tower (Top Right, Figure 11.2.) as I felt it was a little too rigid, simple and boring compared to the other two options I had. I chose the fonts from process of elimination of the 10 given fonts. Basing my choice off the overall shape of the letters, width, height and the more general question of 'do I like it?'.
Letter Adaptation
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| Figure 11.4. Letter Adaptation 1.1, Week2 (7th - 14th Sept 2022) |
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Process for each letter works from left to right. Each row is working on different changes and those with empty space in its row indicates there was no change at that specific moment for the specific change I was making.
Weirdly, I worked on the letter adaptation for stained glass (Bottom, Figure 11.4) first and as I went along, I realised I had very few changes to make to it. It was clear to me that there was not much personality from it and therefore, not much I could do with it. So, I moved on to letter adaptation for the clouds (Top, Figure 11.4) where I had more experimentation.
Week 2 Outcome
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| Figure 12.1. Final Outcome of Letters JPG, Week3 (14th - 21st Sept) |
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| Figure 12.2. Final Outcome Poster JPG, Week4 (21st Sept) |
Task 1 / Exercise 2 - Part 2: Type & Image
For this part of the task, we are to submit our artwork for the Honor Talents Collaboration Competition. Attachment 11.1 above is the brief for the competition.
Idea Concept
Renewal of Life - Spring Season
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| Figure 13.1. Spring Images from Unsplash, Week3 (14th - 21st Sept) |
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| Figure 13.2. Spring Colour Scheme, Week3 & 4 (14th - 28th Sept) |
My mind thought of spring as spring is the season when plants begin to grow and bloom again. I looked at free photos on Unsplash and Pexels to use. I then looked up some spring colours to fit the theme.
Process
Week 3
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| Figure 14.2. First Draft Outcome, Week 3 (14th - 21st Sept) |
The purple and white pansy flowers were masked from Figure 13.1 (Right). The pink flowers were scanned in from the garden in my house back in JB. The idea was to have the flowers move like wind blowing it to give it some natural movement. However, after this outcome, I was still not sure if this would be acceptable for the contest as the main flowers were not my own image.
Week 4
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| Figure 14.3. Second Draft Outcome, Week 4 (21st - 28th Sept) |
The following week in class, it was said that we were allowed to draw instead of use photos considering it would help with the copyright issue for the Honor wallpaper contest. The idea behind this was to make it more "wallpaper" like, having plants and flowers background. The flowers are all spring flowers, according to BBC Gardeners' World Magazine (2022) and SanSone (2021).
Final Outcome
Renewal of Life
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| Figure 15.1. Final Outcome JPG, Week4 (21st - 28th Sept) |
FEEDBACK
Week 2
Axial System
Figure 2.1. (Top Center)
- layout works well
- Has the punk aesthetic
Dilational System
Figure 4.1. (Right)
- Fits the typographic system
- Not very interesting to look at
Random System
Figure 5.1. (Right)
- Not random enough, it needs more chaos
- It has impact
Grid System
Figure 6.1. (Right)
- Highlighting of texts is good
- The information looks like two seperate informations
- It lacks the visual flow and eye movement
Modular System
Figure 7.1. (Left)
- Gutter spaces need to be clear
- Cannot exceed page or guides
- Empty space at the bottom is odd
Bilateral System
Figure 9.1. (Right)
- White line is unnecessary, it would read fine without it
- The two seperate information needs to have proper cross alignment
Week 3
Progress
Letter Adaptation 11.1 (Figure 11.4, Top)
- Contrast of the thick and thin weight is nice
- Discarding of serif but keeping the flare is a good decision
- Bumpyness of the letter 'U' is wider than 'W'. Work on keeping it consistent
Week 5
Process
Week 4 (Figure 14.3)
- Looks very fresh and interesting
- For the Honor's contest however, I should try it out as a screensaver first and think of what needs to be adapted
- If it is used for phone screen saver, it will have a problem. A slight play of tilt and/or orientation of illustration or letters might help.
- It may have too much contrast and would be too distracting for a screensaver. Try a slightly washed out version
Experience
I
have
enjoyed
the
entirety
of
this
assignment
as
it
has
been
interestingly
fun
to
work
on.
Although
I
felt
lost
and
confused
with
the
last
task
of
the
assignment,
it
was
interesting
to
have
the
opportunity
to
weave
and
embed
type
into
image
as
it
is
not
a
practise
I do
often. Typography
requires
one
to
pay
more
attention
to
every
minor
detail,
more
so
than
any
other
design
element,
and
it
is
something
I
have
always
found
to
be
annoying.
However,
during
these
tasks,
I
found
myself
enjoying
playing
with
typography
and
obsessing
over
minor
details
like
in
type
and
play
of
task
2.
Observations
Before
this
module,
I
had
my
own
perception
of
typography
and
believed
that
I
did
not
have
a
sensitive
enough
eye
for
it.
However,
during
these
few
weeks
of
this
assignment,
I
realised
I
have
just
being
closed
minded
about
it.
The
reason
I
never
explored
or
had
fun
with
typography
was
because
I
took
it
a
tad
bit
too
seriously,
formal
and
did
not
even
think
or
try
to
look
at
it
in
a
different
perspective.
The
second
task
has
been
enlightening
for
me
as
I
was
pushed
to
have
fun,
explore
and
approach
it
from
a
different
angle
than
I
am
normally
used
to.
Findings
I
learnt
that
there
are
multiple
ways
to
use
typography
in
a
more
interesting
manner.
I
have
never
been
to
keen
on
playing
with
typography
as
I
found
it
a
dry
and
tedious
part
of
design
but
during
these
few
weeks,
I
have
learnt
that
it
can
be
quite
the
opposite.
In
the
recorded
lecture
videos
on
Youtube,
I
learnt
alot
about
the
history
of
typography
and
what
I
enjoyed
most
about
it
was
that
it
did
not
focus
so
much
on
the
Western
typographic
history
but
instead,
the
Asian
side
of
it.
It
was
new
and
very
refreshing
to
actually
see
it
in
a
different
light
from
what
I
have
learnt
before.
I have enjoyed the entirety of this assignment as it has been interestingly fun to work on. Although I felt lost and confused with the last task of the assignment, it was interesting to have the opportunity to weave and embed type into image as it is not a practise I do often. Typography requires one to pay more attention to every minor detail, more so than any other design element, and it is something I have always found to be annoying. However, during these tasks, I found myself enjoying playing with typography and obsessing over minor details like in type and play of task 2.
Observations
Before this module, I had my own perception of typography and believed that I did not have a sensitive enough eye for it. However, during these few weeks of this assignment, I realised I have just being closed minded about it. The reason I never explored or had fun with typography was because I took it a tad bit too seriously, formal and did not even think or try to look at it in a different perspective. The second task has been enlightening for me as I was pushed to have fun, explore and approach it from a different angle than I am normally used to.
Findings
I learnt that there are multiple ways to use typography in a more interesting manner. I have never been to keen on playing with typography as I found it a dry and tedious part of design but during these few weeks, I have learnt that it can be quite the opposite. In the recorded lecture videos on Youtube, I learnt alot about the history of typography and what I enjoyed most about it was that it did not focus so much on the Western typographic history but instead, the Asian side of it. It was new and very refreshing to actually see it in a different light from what I have learnt before.
Ambrose G. & Harris, P. (2006) The Fundamentals of Typography. AVA Publishing. Available at: https://books.google.com.my/books?hl=en&lr=&id=5WLYdDc5do0C&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=typography&ots=9SKFKSa9z9&sig=hKWe7o8CymORutgLX4npUQNgLUk&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=typography&f=false
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| Figure 16.1. The 22 Magic Signs of Phoenician Characters |
The Phoenician alphabets are the base of many script writings such as Greek, Hebrew and Latin. It is believed to have been developed in Byblos (modern day Jubayl in Lebanon). These 22 alphabets in the figure above are paired with the modern day Latin equivalent it inspired along with the believed original object they represented.
BBC Gardeners' World Magazine (2022) 20 of the best spring flowers [Online] Gardeners World. Available at: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/top-spring-flowers/
SanSone, A. (2021) 20 Best Spring Flowers to Make Your Garden Pop [Online] Pioneer Woman. Available at: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/home-lifestyle/gardening/g35511393/spring-flowers/?slide=20
Spencer, H. (2004) Pioneers of Modern Typography. MIT Press. Available at: https://books.google.com.my/books?id=m-kzq1JnbVoC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
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| Figure 16.2 The Mouse's Tale by Lewis Caroll (1865) |
This image above is a poetic play on typography as it is called 'The Mouse's Tale' and visually represents a mouse's tail. It is a representative and creative transitional typographic system from the nineteenth century by Lewis Caroll. It is eye catching as the type moves in an organic way yet is unnatural for text. Despite its unusual flow, it is still legible.
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